Taking a Look at Why the Ford Bronco Beats Out Its Competitor, the Toyota 4Runner

Time for you to select a new SUV? It can be an overwhelming process as the market is now saturated with options. We completely understand if you’re feeling wiped out just at the thought of having to make a decision, so let us help you out: you’re going to want to go with the Ford Bronco. When you lay out the Bronco’s performance numbers, capability, and handling, you’ll realize that it’s the smartest purchase on the SUV market today. It’s a perfect mix of futuristic tech, stellar performance, and throwback looks. At Kings Ford, we have the Ford Bronco for sale and have seen customer after customer thrilled when they purchase this SUV. They tell us there’s no way they’re considering another SUV in the future: the Bronco is now their model.

If you’re still skeptical and wondering if it can really be all that good, then that’s okay. We’re more than confident you’ll be won over by the end of this comparison. We know that Cincinnati drivers, in particular, excel with the Bronco, so we’re ready to tell you the story of precisely why that is. We believe this is best done via comparison. After all, it’s easy to claim in the abstract that the Bronco is better; we’re ready to put our money where our mouth is and show you why it excels even when placed right next to one of its competitors. The Toyota 4Runner is a reasonably popular SUV in the same price range as the Bronco. It’s not going to take long before you see why the Ford model comes out ahead.

Engine Power: The Heart of Every SUV

Your SUV can succeed on the road and in the wilderness if it has the right engine. Without a good one, though, it’s going to be an unpleasant ride, one you and your passengers will hope is over quickly. Not only do you not want that for yourself, especially if you commute daily, but you don’t want it for your passengers; you want a welcoming vehicle where your passengers feel at ease during your adventures. That’s where horsepower and torque ratings come in. The better these performance numbers, the smoother your ride is at high speeds and the easier it is to accelerate from a standstill.

The 2024 Ford Bronco arrives with two engine options (there is a third, but it’s unique to the Bronco Raptor trim: a 6-cylinder 3.0L EcoBoost). Its standard option is a 2.3L four-cylinder engine that produces 300 hp and 325 lb-ft torque. This is already impressive despite the fact that it’s just the base engine option. You can upgrade this to something even better: a 2.7L V6 engine that produces 330 hp and 415 lb-ft torque. You’ll be sailing smoothly, even at high speeds. You’ll also be able to accelerate well: the Bronco can go from 0 to 60 mph in about 7 seconds.

In comparison, the 4Runner’s only option, a 4.0L V6 engine, just isn’t getting the job done well enough. It takes about 8 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. That’s because this engine’s performance numbers are quite a bit lower; This engine produces 270 hp and 278 lb-ft torque. There’s no upgrade available, either. This less-than-ideal engine performance is a problem. With a weak engine, you’ll be stuck on the entrance ramp, waiting ages for a break in traffic so that you can start your trip. This can be both frustrating and anxiety-producing. It’s better to have the confidence of a powerful and capable engine underneath you.

Handling On and Off the Road

Both the Ford Bronco and Toyota Runner4 will do well off-road thanks to their suspensions and high ground clearance. If you’re looking at rolling over some rocks, then you’ll be pleased with both SUVs. Life on the trails will be fun, and you’ll be able to be as adventurous as you please. The body-on-frame construction of both makes it friendly for dirt roads and muddy paths, although the 4Runner doesn’t have wheels that can compete with the Bronco’s available 35-inch mud-terrain tires. And if both handle well off the road, then they must both handle well on pavement, right?

Not so fast. When you’re off the road, you tend to drive slower, but when you’re cruising down the highway, you’re traveling at far faster speeds. That’s when the Bronco’s better engine really shows off. You’re going to feel in total control. The 4Runner, however, will be substantially less responsive, making you feel like you don’t have quite the same level of command as you do in the Bronco. You’ll notice the engine struggling a little as it attempts to maintain a high speed in a way you simply won’t when you’re in a Bronco. This is not to say the 4Runner cannot achieve high speeds; it just won’t do it nearly as confidently as the Bronco. So, if you’re someone who wants to feel undaunted at top speed, then the Bronco is the move to make.

Fuel Efficiency

SUVs geared towards off-roading don’t tend to have as high fuel efficiency as those made for just the highways and local roads. To tackle rough terrain, you usually need to use a bit of extra fuel. Still, it’s remarkable how much better the 2024 Ford Bronco does with fuel efficiency than the Toyota 4Runner. The difference is more than noticeable when you glance at your weekly budget.

The Bronco earns ratings of 20 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway. That’s remarkably consistent since most vehicles come in with much lower ratings for city driving than they do for highway driving. This is great for our area since we have lots of city driving. Planning your gas usage will be easy since both types of driving get about the same mileage. It will be a surprise, then, to see that the 4Runner only earns ratings of 16 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. There’s just no two ways about it: you’ll be spending a lot more on fuel if you go for a 4Runner. With the Bronco, your monthly gas budget will be considerably less. The 4Runner’s weaker engine gulps a lot of fuel, and in exchange, you’re not even getting better capability.

The Ford Bronco Needs to be Your Next SUV

We hope you now see why we so firmly believe the Ford Bronco has to be your new purchase. It’s not simply that it’s a great SUV in general, either; it’s a great SUV specifically for Ohio drivers. Its adaptability makes it ideal for the varied terrain in our area. Here at Kings Ford, we have plenty of Broncos for you to choose from. You’ll be able to buy the Bronco trim that perfectly matches your driving needs and lifestyle. We know that you’ll become a Bronco driver for life after you get yourself behind the wheel of one, and we’ll be happy to support you along the way. At Kings Ford, our selection of new and used Ford Broncos are hard to beat and our service and parts center is happy to continue serving you long after you drive off the lot in your next vehicle.